Tag Archives: F10

Fernando Alonso drove the Ferrari F10 at Fiorano on Thursday, to film for a “promotional video”, as well as entertaining guests at the track. However, an amateur video has shown that the F10 was using a modified rear end on the car, with a Red Bull style exhaust system.

As we know, in-season testing is banned this year to reduce costs. However, Ferrari have used the “promotional video” exception (not for the first time) to test their latest upgrade to the F10, which seems to be a copy of Red Bull’s exhaust system, which pushes exhaust gases into the diffuser.

The Red Bull exhaust-driven diffuser, which has since been copied by Ferrari

While this is quite cheeky from the team, it isn’t specifically against the rules, even if no other team does this. The team even joked about it in their statement: “You have to make the most of any opportunity in this era of the testing ban!” We will have to wait and see if Ferrari’s design makes it to the next race in Valencia.

After McLaren’s controversial diffuser, there are rumours that Ferrari are already working on a “B-spec” version of their car, because of its lack of an “extreme” diffuser.

When McLaren released their MP4-25 last week, their diffuser was blocked away from view. Paddy Lowe described their diffuser as “extreme”.

Ferrari were already doubtful about their car, with Fernando Alonso saying he did not expect titles immidiately. Now though, the Italian media are reporting that the Scuderia have already started redesigning the entire rear package of their car, to improve their diffuser.

Ferrari are hoping that the FIA declare McLaren’s diffuser illegal (even though nobody has even seen it!), while Mclaren feel that there is no need for an argument, even though they believe they have pushed the rules to the limit.

Suddenly, this might make February testing literally pointless for many teams. If McLaren’s diffuser is as good as they say it will be, the other teams will be playing catch-up for weeks.

However, the internet streaming did not go as planned, as a record 3 million people went onto the Ferrari site, and crashed the servers for anyone else trying to get on.

Regardless, the event went ahead, except without the promotional video. This is because the Fiorano track had practically frozen over, with temperatures barely getting over the freezing mark. Just a thought, we would have preferred it if they had filmed it on ice!

Felipe Massa will test the car first, on Monday in Valencia. He will then hand the car over to Fernando Alonso, who will drive it for the other 2 days.

Lets have a look at the car. First of all, it sports the nose arch hornlet featured by Red Bull last year. The rear wing has a new support structure, and a slightly revised engine cover. The bargeboards are different, and the wing mirror/turning vane now reaches much lower down. The front wing also has new endplates and other downforce-generating sections.

As expected, the car has a longer wheelbase, to deal with the enlarged fuel tank. Ferrari have kindly released specifications for the car: